ENTERPRISE EDITORIAL: Abbott’s plan to reopen Texas is ambitious but must proceed cautiously

Published
12:00 am CDT, Sunday, April 19, 2020

Chauncey Phillips, a sophomore at Beaumont Westbrook, and fourth grader Trovon Morgan sit in the back of a pickup waiting for their veterinarian to open on Friday, April 17, 2020 in Conroe. The boys will not return to in person classes at their respective schools after Gov. Greg Abbott announced Friday that public and private school classrooms will remain closed for the remainder of the school year to avoid quickening the spread of COVID-19. The decision, made with the advice of doctors and health officials, came alongside a series of executive orders intended to slowly reopen the state economy, relaxing restrictions on retail businesses, doctor's offices and public parks. less

Chauncey Phillips, a sophomore at Beaumont Westbrook, and fourth grader Trovon Morgan sit in the back of a pickup waiting for their veterinarian to open on Friday, April 17, 2020 in Conroe. The boys will not ... more

Photo: Brett Coomer, Houston Chronicle / Staff Photographer

Photo: Brett Coomer, Houston Chronicle / Staff Photographer

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Chauncey Phillips, a sophomore at Beaumont Westbrook, and fourth grader Trovon Morgan sit in the back of a pickup waiting for their veterinarian to open on Friday, April 17, 2020 in Conroe. The boys will not return to in person classes at their respective schools after Gov. Greg Abbott announced Friday that public and private school classrooms will remain closed for the remainder of the school year to avoid quickening the spread of COVID-19. The decision, made with the advice of doctors and health officials, came alongside a series of executive orders intended to slowly reopen the state economy, relaxing restrictions on retail businesses, doctor's offices and public parks. less

Chauncey Phillips, a sophomore at Beaumont Westbrook, and fourth grader Trovon Morgan sit in the back of a pickup waiting for their veterinarian to open on Friday, April 17, 2020 in Conroe. The boys will not ... more

Photo: Brett Coomer, Houston Chronicle / Staff Photographer

ENTERPRISE EDITORIAL: Abbott’s plan to reopen Texas is ambitious but must proceed cautiously

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We’ll give Gov. Greg Abbott credit for being optimistic and ambitious with his plan to reopen Texas that was announced last week. Much of it makes sense, but some parts seem premature when another week or two of waiting would be more prudent. As the plan unfolds this week and in coming weeks, Abbott and state officials must monitor it carefully. They should push forward as much as possible but be prepared to pause if infections and deaths from the coronavirus increase again.

The toughest part of his plan — ending the 2019-2020 school year — illustrates the concerns that many people have. If something as important as public education has to be canceled — at least on campus — until the summer, it’s clear that the threat from this pandemic is still very real. And why do state parks have to reopen on Monday? What would be hurt if they remained closed for another week or two? Texans love their state parks, but no one loves them enough to unnecessarily risk contracting a disease that could be fatal.

At least the bulk of Abbott’s plan lessens group gatherings and maintains the social distancing guidelines that are so important in preventing the spread of the virus. Retailers will be able to partially reopen on Friday, though Abbott said they must offer a “retail to go” option for customers to pick up their purchases outside or have them delivered to their homes. Stranger-to-stranger contact must be kept to a minimum to beat this virus.

In fact, the broader stay-at-home orders that have kept so many Texans away from work or off the streets remain in effect until the end of this month. And by one scary estimate, May 1 is expected to be the peak for coronavirus deaths in Texas. So much about this virus remains unknown, and we really won’t know that we’re out of harm’s way until it’s far in the rear-view mirror. Until then, caution is warranted.

We’d also feel better about all this if we had more trust in the team Abbott relied upon to formulate this policy. But the governor and these same officials were late to react to the virus, and then took advantage of the crisis to needlessly ban abortions. Several weeks ago, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick was already arguing for the reopening of Texas even if it killed more elderly people.

But they are in charge now, for better or worse, and they must be flexible as this virus winds down — assuming it winds down, something that cannot be guaranteed. We all want to reopen Texas as fully and quickly as possible. But if a premature reopening infects more Texans with the virus or increases hospitalization — possibly to the breaking point — our state will not be able to move forward.

The sacrifices that employees and employers have made so far are considerable. We don’t want them to be in vain. A phased, gradual reopening will help guarantee that they are not. Let’s proceed carefully.